The family made it a habit to turn away from the house whenever they took family photos. Joanne’s teenage grandchildren were embarrassed by the appearance of the home and avoided being picked up or dropped off in front of the house. It was depressing and overwhelming because they could not afford the repairs.

Joanne called NeighborWorks Rochester (NWR) looking for funds for a new roof. Al met with Joanne at her home and told her she could qualify for some serious home improvements but Joanne met his words with skepticism.  She said, “When Al said we could get a new furnace, a hot water heater, siding, windows, a bathtub surround, and insulation I was like ‘am I dreaming?’ and thought ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’”

Now the home is warmer in the winter and since they live on a busy street, Joanne has noticed that is it quieter. Getting a new window installed into the bathroom, where there had not been any exterior window, made a huge difference. Joanne says, “I can still hardly believe the change!”

Family members actually drove past the house because they did not recognize it and everyone tells them how beautiful the house looks. Joanne’s daughter and granddaughter have not gone to the hospital once since work was completed. Both of them have severe asthma and trips to the ED happened on a regular basis.

Joanne says, “Everyone is feeling much more confident about our home. Especially the younger ones, they see that change is possible. Everyone is feeling upbeat. I feel blessed.”